Rail joint



K. E. FERCH RAIL JOINT Nov. 17, 1925-- Fil ed Aug. 14, 1923 Patented Nov. 17,1925.

UNITED STATES KARL EMIL FEBCH, 0F KQEFENICK, "WISCONSIN.

RAIL JOINT.

Application filed August 14, 1923. Serial No. 6573 0.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, KARL EMIL Fnnorr, a citizen of theUnited States and resident of Koepenick, in the county of Langlade and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Joints; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to rail joints.

Objects of this invention are to provide a rail joint which will firmly hold the rails in their correct relative position, which will prevent the rails from spreading, which acts as an anti-creeper, which does not necessitate boring bolt holes through the rail webs, and which is of sturdy and simple construction.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a series of "xtaposed rails with the device in position.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the structure shown in Figure 1 with parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the arrangements of the parts.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

The rails are arranged with their heads 1, webs 2 and bases 3 in alignment, as illustrated, and are positioned upon the body portion 4 of the apparatus. This body portion has its inner surface upwardly extending' and inwardly turned to form a hooked flange 5 which engages over the base 3 of the rails upon their inner sides. A pair of feet 6 are arranged on each side of the device and are integrally formed with the body portion 4such feet being suitably apertured to receive spikes whereby they may be secured to a sleeper or cross tie. On the outer side of the rails, the body portion is provided with upwardly extending lugs 7 which are materially larger than the upturned flange 5 previously described, as may be seen from Figure 8. The inner surfaces of these upwardly and inwardly turned lugs 7 are beveled or slant inwardly towards each other, as indicated at 8. Within these lugs wedgelike members 9 are positioned and are similarly beveled upon their outer sides so as to fit the beveled portions 8 of the lugs, and adjacent their inner sides, such wedge members 9 are extended upwardly, as indicated at 10, and enga e the webs 2 of the rails. They are pre erably' formed with projecting or ribbed portions 11 which engage the webs adjacent their upper and lower edges. These ribs, obviously, may be either smooth or serrated as desired. The lower portions of the wedge members 9 are beveled, as indicated at 12 (see Figure 3) so as to accurately engage and conform to the sloping face of the bases 3.

Means are provided for drawing the wedge members 9 towards each other and may comprise reversely threaded rods 12 carried by such wedge members and extending towards each other. These rods are received by the internally. threaded turn buckle 13,, such turn buckle being provided with apertures therethrough into which a manipulating bar may be inserted. Obviously, any desired pressure may be exerted upon the rails by the wedge members to firmly grip them by manipulating the turn buckle. After the desired adjustment has been secured any means may be employed for preventing reverse rotation of the turn buckle. For instance, a pin may be slipped downwardly through one of the apertures 1% and may engage a portion of the rail and thusprevent rotation of the turn buckle. Obviously, any other suitable means may be employed.

It is to be noted that the inner side of the rail is not encumbered by large upwardly projecting portions, for the only upwardly projecting portion is the relatively small upwardly and inwardly turned flange 5.

The outer side of the rail is engaged as described by the wedge members which seat in relatively heavy lugs 7 and thus'mate rially reinforce the outer side of the rail against spreading, for, as is well known, the spreading of the rails is outwardly and it is at this side that the maximum strength against deflection is afforded by this construction. If desired, a small upwardly ex tending flange 15 may be provided between the lugs 7 and may engage the outer edge of the base 3 of the rails.

It will thus be seen that a rail joint has been provided which avoids the necessity of boring holes through the flanges in the rails for the subsequent reception of bolts, but which may be applied to any of the usual types of rails and may be instantly clamped in position thus firmly and securely retaining the rail against relative motion.

It is further to be noted that the device positively grips the rails and, therefore,

when it is fastened to the cross ties it acts as an anti creeping device as Well as a rail joint.

Although one form of the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention may be variously embodied and is to be limited only as claimed.

1 claim:

The combination of a pair of juxtaposed rails having their heads, Webs, and bases aligned, and a gripping device comprising a body portion located below the bases and engaging one side of each base, a pair of upstanding lugs upon the other side, a pair of rei'ersely slanting, spaced, Wedge means positioned between said lugs and said rails and ivedgingly engaging said rails, an elongated nut, and ,reversely threaded screws cooperating With said nut for simultaneously moving both of said Wedge means, the body portion of said gripping device having an unbroken channel of uniform Width throughout adapted to receive the bases of the rails and to hold them in alignment independently of said .Wedging means, the marginal Walls of said channel engaging opposed edges of the bases.

In testin'iony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Koepenick, in the county of Langlade, and State of Visconsin.

KARL EMIL FERCH. 

